Fiction:
Bitter Waters by Vivian Shaw is a novella in the Greta Helsing series about a doctor who treats supernatural beings (a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing of Dracula fame). This rather cozy installment starts off with the tragedy of a child being turned into a vampire, but things swiftly take a turn for the better when the unloved child finds herself among caring strangers, her new vampire kin, who want what’s best for her. Plus there are barrow wights. I very much enjoyed the original trilogy and am looking forward to a new installment in May.
Penric and the Bandit by Lois McMaster Bujold is the thirteenth short work in this series set in the Five Gods world and focusing on the sorceror Penric and his demon, Desdomona. The story felt less substantial to me than many of the others. Though I liked the idea of redemption for a bandit who’d had few opportunities in life, the actual process of that redemption felt flat and uninteresting, and Penric’s self-defense was unexpectedly brutal at a couple of points.
Fanfiction:
Lucy Eyelesbarrow and the Olympian Task by ellen_fremedon for sinkauli is for fans of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books, but it’s also delightful if your memory of those books is dim.
The Garment Gift by Ione for xariarte is a sequel to Sense and Sensibility; Marianne is hosting Christmas at Delaford House.
You’re Not In Charge Tonight by Catchclaw is a short but perfect Blake’s 7 story in which alien aphrodisiac affects Blake, Jenna, and Avon.
Dig No Graves by miss_aphelion is a lovely alternate universe version of the MCU, in which Tony Stark finds out early that The Winter Soldier killed his parents; but The Winter Soldier is not at all what he expects. Eventually, it’s “WinterIron” slash.
The Louisiana Superheroes Cinematic Universe by napricot focuses on the slow accumulation of superheroes in south Louisiana, following Sam Wilson becoming Captain America. Bucky Barnes joins him in his home state, and later becomes friends with Carol Danvers. The Winter Soldier and Captain Marvel have rather a lot in common.
join the monster squad by napricot posits an Avengers that includes both Natasha Romanov and Yelena Belova as well as a lot of sparkling dialogue. Yelena needs to pass a psych test; group therapy for ex-assassins is the compromise solution. I especially enjoyed the cameo appearances in this one.
Woven From Your Brown Hair by Hannah is a prequel to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine focusing on neurodivergent Julian Bashir, being unexpectedly brought up by his childless Aunt Imogen. This story, unusually for Star Trek fanfiction, looks into what Earth is like in the days of the Federation. I could have read another few volumes of this.
Latchkey by goldkirk features neglected child Tim Drake, who secretly runs a Gotham crime blog and ends up adopted into the Wayne family. Tim knows the Batfamily’s secret identities, but they do not know he’s the mysterious blogger. Bruce and Tim are both Jewish, which is a nice connection point I haven’t seen in a lot of fanfiction.
Lost and Found by mosylu is an alternate universe version of Star Wars: Rogue One in which everybody lives, nobody dies (except the Emperor!). Jyn Erso is captured, presumed dead, and in a work camp; Cassian Andor finds her six years later. She’s not alone.
